snake. There was also in them something of the deadly
malevolence that all snakes' eyes seem to possess, and the Englishman
could barely repress a shudder of disgust as he found those eyes fixed
on his, for he felt as though he had suddenly come in contact with some
noxious reptile.

As they entered, the Council, with the exception of the man just
referred to, rose and bowed solemnly to Wong-lih, who returned the bow
ceremoniously. He and Frobisher were then signed to seat themselves,
after which the Councillors resumed their seats.

Commencing with the old man at the head of the table, each of the
members of the Council in turn questioned Wong-lih, and a long
conversation in Chinese ensued, which Frobisher was of course unable to
understand. He occupied himself with looking round the room and
admiring the wonderful carving and the priceless tapestries on the
walls, and was quite taken by surprise when he suddenly heard Wong-lih's
voice calling his name.

He was then introduced to the Council collectively, and a number of
questions were put to him in English, with which tongue he was beginning
to think every Chinaman must be familiar, so many had he already
encountered who were able to speak it almost as fluently as himself.
Like many of his fellow countrymen, he had up to now imagined that the
Chinese were a barbarous race, knowing nothing of anything that happened
outside their own country.

Apparently he soon satisfied his examiners as to his nautical
attainments; and presently he found himself in possession of a parchment
which set forth the fact that Murray Frobisher was appointed to the
Chinese Navy with the rank of captain; and he was informed that he was
to take command of the _Chih' Yuen_ as soon as she was ready for service
again. Until that time he was to consider himself on the staff of
Admiral Wong-lih, who would find employment for him in the interim.
After this little ceremony a further lengthy discussion took place in
Chinese, and it was not until late in the evening that he and his
sponsor were able to get away and return to the ship.

Arrived there, they proceeded to the cabin where Wong-lih had taken up
his quarters, and here Frobisher received an account of what had
occurred at the meeting.

"It seems," announced the admiral, "that a dispatch has been received
from our Minister in Tokio, informing us that the Japanese, although
they have sent an escort for their Minister at Seoul, have de